Nameless Light

Czechoslovak New Wave, Miloš Forman, Milan Kundera

This week, I sit down with Professor Karen von Kunes from the University of Toronto for a fascinating deep dive into the Czech and Slovak New Wave. We explore the surreal, the satirical, and the socially charged films that emerged during one of the most creatively explosive—and politically turbulent—moments in cinema history.
From Closely Watched Trains to Daisies, from Forman’s under-the-table realism to Kundera’s polyphonic prose, this conversation uncovers the strange magic that still lingers in these films decades later. If you’ve ever wondered what makes Czech cinema so quietly radical, this episode is for you.
Five films to watch from the Czech and Slovak New Wave:
The Audition / Competition (Miloš Forman, 1963) – mock talent‑show that launched the WaveLoves of a Blonde (Forman, 1965) – bittersweet factory‑town romanceDaisies (Věra Chytilová, 1966) – psychedelic prank that still feels avant‑gardeClosely Watched Trains (Jiří Menzel, 1966) – Oscar‑winning coming‑of‑age at a sleepy wartime stationThe Firemen’s Ball (Forman, 1967) – small‑town raffle becomes a parable of socialist dysfunction(Curious listeners can then graduate to The Joke (Jireš, 1969) and the 1996 Oscar‑winner Kolya.)
Video Chapters:
0:00 - Welcome & Episode Overview
0:35 - 1960s Political Thaw in Czechoslovakia
2:00 - Prague Film Academy Sparks a Generation
4:40 - Slánský Trials & Cultural Opening
7:00 - Italian Neorealism Inspires Czech Filmmakers
12:00 - Defining the Czech New Wave Style
13:50 - “Daisies” vs “Closely Watched Trains” — One Movement?
14:36 - ‘Daisies’: Surrealist Rebellion Against 60s Consumerism
17:09 - Three Pillars of the Czech New Wave: Ordinary Lives, Humor & Sex
18:59 - Humor as a National Survival Strategy in Czech History
21:07 - Language, Subtitles & Why Jokes Get Lost in Translation
24:01 - Inside Closely Watched Trains: Sex, Satire & War’s Absurdity ​
29:05 - Underground Resistance in Closely Watched Trains
32:23 - What Defines a Czech New Wave Film?
33:55 - Miloš Forman’s Mock Audition (1963)
37:10 - Youth Culture, Motorcycles & Kinetic Camerawork
41:00 - Realism Rises After Socialist Fatigue
42:55 - Early Features: Black Peter and the Movement’s Peak ​
43:22 - Miloš Forman Goes Global: Black Peter & Early Awards
44:58 - Hallmarks of the Czech New Wave (Humor, Realism, Non‑Actors)
45:56 - The Firemen’s Ball — Subtle Satire & Political Easter Eggs
49:40 - “Everything Belongs to You”: Socialism, Theft & Daily Life
51:00 - Why Czech Audiences Flocked to These Films
55:56 - Beyond Realism: Films as a Wake‑Up Call for Social Change ​
57:44 - Cinema Sparks Youth Activism & the Road to Prague Spring
58:24 - A Midnight Encounter Inspires Loves of a Blonde
59:45 - Factory Girls, Small‑Town Dreams & Social Constraints
1:02:10 - Forman’s Signature POV: Under‑the‑Table Realism
1:04:55 - Heartbreak, Hope & Owning Your Future
1:06:08 - Milan Kundera’s Literary Imprint & The Joke ​
1:11:54 - Postcard Prank & Expulsion in Kundera’s The Joke
1:13:30 - Mining Flashbacks & the Last New Wave Picture
1:15:45 - Did the Movement Really Influence World Cinema?
1:17:30 - 1970s “Normalization”: Films Locked Away
1:20:25 - Forman’s Shadow and Today’s Czech Filmmakers
1:23:45 - Oscar‑Winning Kolya: Love Across Borders ​
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Comedian Manjeet Sarkar on caste system and comedy

Manjeet Sarkar is an internationally acclaimed comedian and filmmaker featured in The Guardian, Christian Science Monitor, The Print, and more. The first Indian comedian to perform at the United Nations, he was named the 'Next Big Thing' by Deadant Comedy Awards in 2024. Having completed six national tours in India, he is currently on a world tour.
Connect with Manjeet:
https://www.instagram.com/manjeet_not_sarkar
https://x.com/notsarkar
Video Chapters
0:00 – Highlight Reel (Key Moments)0:41 – Mike’s Introduction & Guest Overview1:05 – Weather Talk & First Impressions of Canada2:01 – Comparing Vancouver & Toronto3:02 – Beginning the Caste System Discussion5:00 – Historic Oppression of Dalits6:00 – “Can’t You Just Move Away?”: Name & Identity Issues8:04 – Power Structures & Media Representation9:16 – Privilege & Upper-Caste Diaspora10:18 – “Two Indias”: Rich vs. The Other 80%11:50 – Social Media Stereotypes & Indian Street Scenes13:50 – Extreme Contrast: Luxury Hotels Beside Slums15:00 – Manjeet’s Invitation to Perform at the UN18:50 – Earning Respect from Veteran Comedians20:45 – The High Cost of Doing Comedy in India21:35 – Overcoming Inferiority: Comedy as Empowerment
23:52 – Embracing Bold Confidence Over Feeling “Less Than”25:45 – First Open Mic: 300km Road Trip & Bombing28:00 – Advice for Aspiring Comics: Practice on Stage30:00 – The 6-Year Journey to Finding Your “Voice”32:40 – Drunken Revelation: Embracing True Stories Onstage34:30 – Owning One’s Upbringing & Identity in Comedy36:00 – Comedic Influences: Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr & Doug Stanhope39:01 – Why Doug Stanhope Kept Manjeet in Comedy41:30 – Toronto’s Diverse Yet Tricky Comedy Scene43:40 – Pushing Through When Comedy Seems Unsustainable45:50 – That Onstage “High” & Dopamine Rush47:00 – Awkward Silences, Uncomfortable Truths48:10 – Making Upper-Caste Audiences Squirm
50:18 – “Savarna Guilt” & Copying Western Wokeness53:30 – Intersectionality vs. Real Activism55:00 – Does Cancel Culture Exist in India?58:40 – Twitter Fury Over a “Taboo” Joke1:02:00 – Facing Attacks from Both Left & Right1:04:00 – More Online Hate & “Pseudo-Feminism”1:08:00 – Balancing Identity vs. Comedy Agenda1:10:00 – Imagining a Post-Caste Future1:12:20 – Favorite Indian Films (Satyajit Ray)1:14:00 – Outro & Social Links

Illiberalism, Populism, Central Europe, Class Alliances

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Ivan Kalmar, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Toronto, to explore the rise and spread of illiberal ideas in Europe and beyond.
Dr. Kalmar, whose work ranges from the study of Inuit language and computer mythology to the image of Muslims and Jews in Western culture, brings a wealth of insight from his latest book, White But Not Quite: Central Europe’s Illiberal Revolt. During the conversation, he discusses his personal experiences growing up in 1950s Czechoslovakia, the evolution of language and identity, and the ways in which capitalism, class alliances, and global trends in populism shape the political landscape today. The discussion also touches on topics such as the dynamics of post-communist Europe, the challenges of EU enlargement, and how cultural and economic factors intersect in debates about national identity and sovereignty.
Video Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:36 – Growing Up in 1950s Czechoslovakia
3:08 – Language, Identity & Bilingual Upbringing
7:21 – Book Overview: Eastern European Illiberalism
10:10 – Global Illiberalism: West–East Dynamics & America's Shift
11:56 – Eastern European "ism": Unpacking Unique Prejudices
17:41 – Post–Cold War Divides: Exclusion from the Western Club
18:26 – Capitalism & Illiberalism: The Struggle for Capital
19:36 – Colonial Capitalism: Extraction of Labor & Resources
20:01 – Post‑1989 Capitalist Reconfiguration in Eastern Europe
20:29 – Voluntary Embrace & the Colonial Analogy
21:59 – EU Enlargement: Integration or New Dependency?
23:03 – Western Economic Dominance in Eastern Economies
24:29 – Core vs. Periphery: Geography of Capital and Illiberalism
26:00 – Domestic Core‑Periphery Dynamics: Urban Centers vs. Rural Backlash
28:20 – Perceptions & Projections: Illiberalism and Racial Stereotypes
29:01 – Provoking Illiberalism: Consequences of Western Policies
29:16 – Global South Comparisons: Extending Illiberal Trends
30:14 - Illiberalism in the Global South (Philippines, India, Indonesia)
32:23 - The Future of Illiberal Movements
33:04 - Lack of New Ideas from the Left
34:13 - Bernie Sanders and the Left’s Challenges
35:50 - Blind Spots in Western Political Science
36:07 - Class Analysis of Illiberalism
37:20 - The Alliance of the Very Rich and the Not-So-Poor
38:20 - Why Voters Support Illiberalism
39:05 - Elon Musk’s Endorsement of AfD in Germany
40:02 - Culture Wars: US vs. Central/Eastern Europe
40:40 - Comparing Poland to Germany vs. Russia
40:47 - Culture Wars in Central Europe
41:19 - "Gender Ideology" and Illiberal Rhetoric
42:16 - Nationalism: "Make America Great Again" vs. "Hungary First"
43:33 - The Ukraine War and Its Impact on Europe
44:05 - Ukraine’s Aspiration to Be Central European
45:20 - Risks of Exploitative Capitalism in Post-War Ukraine
46:27 - Could Ukraine Turn Illiberal After the War?
47:36 - EU Defense Autonomy and Illiberalism
48:25 - Why Illiberal Movements Support Russia
49:20 - Life Advice for Young People

Japan's Former Minister of Justice on Japan in Trump 2.0

Changing Geoeconomics in the Age of Trump: The Insider View from Japan. Hideki Makihara served as a member of the Japanese House of Representatives for sixteen years and occupied various senior government, parliamentary, and party roles, including most recently as Minister of Justice. In this episode, Mr. Makihara provides a first-hand perspective on key developments in Japanese policy, from the lasting influence of Abenomics to the next steps under the Ishiba administration, with a focus on economic security and emerging technologies. He also addresses how Japan is adapting to the increasing assertiveness of China, sharpening geoeconomic competition, and the return of Donald Trump to the White House.
Video Chapters 0:00 – Intro 1:00 – Welcoming the Guest & First Impressions of Canada 1:31 – Tariffs & “America First” Policies 2:45 – Abenomics: Successes & Deflation’s End 4:00 – Evolving Abenomics Under New Administrations 5:00 – Japan’s Return to Inflation 6:40 – The Impact of Rising Energy Costs 8:25 – Wage Growth vs. Price Increases 9:30 – Looking Ahead: Ensuring Real Economic Benefits 10:05 – Government Oversight & Price Pressures on SMEs 11:00 – Shifting from Savings to Investments 12:15 – The Nikkei Boom & Missed Opportunities 13:00 – Managing Relations with China & the US 14:20 – Japan’s Vision as a “Bridge of Peace” 15:05 – AI & Semiconductor Investments 17:00 – Addressing Population Decline & Aging 19:45 – Foreign Labor & Robotics 20:20 – Regional Revitalization Strategies 22:00 – Balancing Stimulus & National Debt 25:00 – Future Economic Priorities 26:30 – Life Advice & Japanese Anime Recommendations 27:30

Microsoft’s Majorana Chip, Topological Qubits & Quantum Machine Learning

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nathan Wiebe from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. Prof. Wiebe specializes in quantum simulation, machine learning, and quantum computing. We talk about the fundamentals of quantum computing, explore Microsoft’s new “Majorana” quantum chip, and discuss what the future holds for quantum machine learning, error correction, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or just curious about the world of qubits, this conversation offers insights into the rapidly evolving quantum landscape.
Video Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction and Episode Overview 0:27 - Quantum vs. Classical Computing 2:20 - Interference and Negative Probability Amplitudes 5:12 - The Microsoft “Majorana” Quantum Chip 14:15 - Topological Qubits vs. Google’s Surface Code 19:22 - “Transistor of the Quantum Age?”: Reliability and Error Correction 26:36 - Qubit Counts, Gate Overheads, and the Error-Correction Challenge 30:17 - Quantum Machine Learning: Hype vs. Reality 34:53 - AGI, Large Language Models, and Is Quantum Necessary? 37:01 - Real-World Applications: Chemistry and Materials Science 43:32 - Beyond Classical AI: Where Quantum Might Help 45:16 - Life Advice for Aspiring Scientists 52:00 - Final Thoughts and Outro
Thanks for listening, and enjoy the conversation!

Dr. Senjuti Saha Interview